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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/24/2008 11:32:08 AM
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Hi it's Amanda again. I ordered the needed equipment for my prop system. I ordered the largest Tetra Tec air pump as per your recommendation with a five outlet gange valve, some large sponge filters, airline tubing, some wooden airstones and battery operated pump for emergencies and some heaters. I remember how the old undergravel filters work from when I started in this hobby. Can you give me an idea of how many lift tubes I should start with in each tank? I am using 55 gallon totes measuring approximately 20"X40"X16" filled to 11-12". I am thinking two lift tubes would be sufficient but that's just a guess. It would be easier to build it right the first time. Also what is the best way to keep the anemones from being sucked into the tubes? I was thinking of rolling up gutter guard and stuffing it into any large openings as you had recommended in some of your other posts.
Thanks for your help.Amanda
Amanda-
20+ years tropical fish experience, 6 years saltwater, 3 years reef
Current tanks: 47 gal extra tall reef, 30 gal anemone tank, prop system under construction
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/10/2009 9:42:58 AM
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Amanda, i would be interested in seeing a pic of how yours works when you do set it up...I was under the impression an air blower was necessary to generate decent flow in the tank, and i can't seem to get the setup to click in my head how an airlift works, despite reading the articles
Peace...
Dan
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/24/2008 11:32:08 AM
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| Hey Dan. Here's a great thread with a bit more detail: http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic44257-13-1.aspx?Highlight=anemone Read Anthony's first response to get a better idea. I think the blowers are for powering things on a larger scale, at least that's the impression I got. Have you ever seen undergravel filters with the plate that goes under the gravel and the tubes that come up from the plates to the surface? That's the basic idea except without the plates. You basically put a piece of pvc pipe vertically in the tank. You stick the airline tube in near the bottom and the air pulls the water through and out the top. You need an opening near the bottom to draw the water in and some type of elbow to direct the water out horizontally. I just need to design them so the pipes stay in place and I haven't figured it out yet. Once I know how many to start with I'll know better how I can join together a pvc stand of some sort. I will be happy to post pics once it's underway and I get the camera figured out. HTH Amanda
Amanda-
20+ years tropical fish experience, 6 years saltwater, 3 years reef
Current tanks: 47 gal extra tall reef, 30 gal anemone tank, prop system under construction
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/17/2009 7:36:45 AM
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| Forestal ... this may be of interest (albeit not a complete match to your question). While these pics are of the "serious" type of air lift (driven by a blower), they show the potential pretty well. Air Lifts first try
http://thecoralgardens.com/mambo/content/view/34/44/ Whether they're of any use to you is another question ...  Chihuahua6 ... if you don't already have it in your personal reference "library", you may wish to consider adding this one ... Seawater Aquariums
The Captive Environment
Stephen Spotte
John Wiley & Sons, 1979 Lots of great, easy to read technical information, including detailed information regarding the operation of airlifts ... look through pp 61-69 for detailed specifics and drawings regarding your question.
Can you give me an idea of how many lift tubes I should start with in each tank? I am using 55 gallon totes measuring approximately 20"X40"X16" filled to 11-12". I am thinking two lift tubes would be sufficient but that's just a guess.
I would think so too (JMO) ... but ... "sufficent" for what? Filtration? ... Aeration? ... Particulate capture? ... DOM retention? I've been looking for the "technical parameter specs" for the maintenance of Entacmea specimens in captivity for a while now, but haven't been able to find anything useful to small-scale aquaculturalists. The best I can offer is some flow specs (per Spotte) ... a 1" diameter tube, 11.8" long (fully submerged) with "strong" air flow is going to give you ~ 2.0 liters of water flow per minute. Since 2L is ~ 0.5 G, that's ~ 30 US gallons per hour. A 20"X40"X12" water volume is ~ 41 G. With 2 such airlifts, you're looking at ~ 60 G per hour water flow through the airlift tubes, or ~ 1.5X turnover (of total water volume) per hour through the airlift tubes per hour.
HTH
Res Ipsa Loquitor.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/11/2009 8:44:38 AM
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| 2 should work but it all depends on the the flow they generate. It's really a hit and miss kind of deal. I have seen a post here where they are hung by a wire above the tank. Serk is his handle or at least I think it is. he is from Texas his post should be no more than a page away. Look at http://forum.marinedepot.com/Topic54558-13-1.aspx . In another thread someone attached the pipe to the top of his sponge filter. Both are clever. You could run the air tubing thru the top of the elbow if you like so long as the hole is a tight fit. You don't want the water coming out the top. Keep the elbow about half way above the water line to keep down on salt spray. All you are after is a mild current to keep the water swirling. Try out 2' pipes. There is not going to be that much suction coming from the airlifts. At least thats the way I remember it being. Understand that my memory is as short as my cash  . Drill some holes or cut some slots about an inch or 2 from the bottom that should keep there foot out at least and if they wander into it you can easily remove them. It's good to start seeing more post on these prop systems. Keep us posted and good luck with your venture.
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 6/11/2009 8:44:38 AM
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| Just so there is no confusion if you have the pipes under the water you get the current you are after. If the pipes are half way under the water level as i had suggested, it will help "break" the surface tension of the water which I desire and give you flow as well.
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Group: Forum Members
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| You may have problems with only 11-12" of water and airlifts. I tried to set up some 10 gallon tanks a while back when I got my original anemones for broodstock and I couldn't get enough flow with such shallow water. The short length did not give the air and water enough dwell time to create the flow needed. I ended up making DIY airlifts, cutting slots in the PVC and then sliding a sponge filter over it. Then I used a power head to get to needed flow. The sponge filter covering the slots in the PVC provided more than adequate protection to keep the anemones from getting sucked in. The anemones actually would adhere to the sponge filters from time to time without a problem. Give the airlifts a try, but I think you will have a problem getting enough flow in such a short distance. Most people using airlifts are using them in water 20-30 inches deep.
Todd
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 7:08:25 PM
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| not so my friend... the short lifts easily work (well too... just look at decades of very good sponge filter designs for hatcheries). Tetra, Jungle, etc have lift tubes as short as 4" and dont need the water height much deeper than that. Lift tube diameter matters little too... it is most wholly about having the right air/water ratio and finessing bubble size a bit. If you can estimate it... begin with about 20% air in the column. Too much air actually reduces flow. Experiment to find the sweet spot for the diameters you are using (you can test your lift tube in a bucket with the spout leaning over an adjacent bucket and see how fast X liters get pumped out with incremental changes in air flow (gang valve or the like... take note)
. Anthony Calfo
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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 8/24/2008 11:32:08 AM
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| Forestal and others I know where you can see an airlift in action. Visit your local supermarket or fish market and look inside the lobster tank. Kroger down here has a very nice strong airlift system. I even got a new idea from seeing their set up. They have a box where the water flows up to and cascades out of the top kind of like a hang on back power filter except it's inside the tank. As long as it doesn't hamper flow in my set up I thought I could put together something similar and use it to hold carbon. Amanda
Amanda-
20+ years tropical fish experience, 6 years saltwater, 3 years reef
Current tanks: 47 gal extra tall reef, 30 gal anemone tank, prop system under construction
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 11/4/2009 7:08:25 PM
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ahhh... very good observation! This will help many folks with a visual.
.Anthony Calfo
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